'Safe space' poster for LGBT students won't be displayed at Rutherford school

Sep. 5, 2013

Written by

Amanda Haggard

Gannett Tennessee

MURFREESBORO — The Rutherford County school board will not allow a recently removed “safe space” poster back on the wall at Central Magnet School, but the board and a teacher disagree about how the poster got there at all.

The poster reads “This is a safe and inclusive space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies. All students deserve a safe and welcoming school environment.” It was removed after a parent sent a letter requesting that it come down, according to school officials.

At a standing-room-only school board meeting Wednesday, history teacher Allen Nichols said the issue had to do with the free speech of his students.

“I want to first assert that the poster was not mine nor am I the sponsor of the school’s (Gay-Straight Alliance),” said Nichols, in whose classroom the poster was displayed. “Last year, students approached me requesting to display a safe zone poster ... After finding our administrator’s literal stamp of approval, I agreed.”

The poster had been up for more than a year before its removal, he said.

However, Jeff Reed, staff attorney for RCS, said he thought the teacher was trying to backpedal on earlier statements.

The poster was up before the school year began, Reed said. “The teacher told the principal that he was the one that put the poster up this year after students had asked him to put it up last year.”

Reed said the poster singles out one group for special treatment.

“And it’s placed in a teacher’s classroom. That’s a different situation than if you have a general bulletin board where all students post items,” Reed said.

While the school board will not allow the poster go back up at the school, Director of Rutherford County Schools Don Odom said he would look closely at the system’s anti-bullying policy to ensure all students are included.